Conveyer system



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INVENTOR.

L )de MA Bowers.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 Unirse stares enfrentar oFFlcl:Y

Y 2,052,748 f Y' l coNvEYERsvsTEn/r. Lyle W. Bowers, Cleveland, Ohio Applieann Maren 12, 1936, serial No. 63,469

'zo clams.' (61.198411'7) vThis invention relates to equipment `for facilitating manual operations in production of manufactured articles. Y

The invention is applicable to a broad variety of production operations in various industries' and the description herein relating toa speciiic` operation in a specific industry is'an example of an application 'of this invention, the` underlying principles being pointed out in connection if?? therewith so that an appreciation 'of the broad application of the invention may be had. The invention will be described as applied A,to the placing of dishes in saggers preparatory to burning the ware in kilns, in the pottery industry. 15? A long established and familiar practice in placing dishes in saggers is as follows:

The glazed Ware, in unburned condition, is arranged in a supply stock. Saggers are provided in a convenientlyaccessible supply. Trucks 2) on which the lled saggers are leaded for movement into the kilns are brought to a position Where they may be loaded. This Work is done by men known as placers,

The Ware is to be placed in the saggers. Each 225 piece of Ware should not be in Contact With any other piece and should not be in -contact vWith the sagger. The w-are is lplaced With pins between and separating the pieces. A supplyof pins is always at hand. Y

39 The placer is provided with a Work benchand a cabinet at the bench for holding the Ware. The Work of the placer consists in: carrying Ware from the supply stock Ato his cabinet; carrying theV sagger from thesupply to his Work table;

35 placing the Ware in the sagger (the supply of pins atthe work table being attended to by an assistant); and carrying the lled sagger lto the kiln car.

The placer is a skilled Workman. The Operation of placing is a meticulous one, much practice is required to become eicient at it. "The placer spends much of his time carrymg 'ware `to his cabinet, saggers to table, and filled saggers ,to the kiln car. The eicient applica'- 455 tion of the placers time, to placing alone,'is one objective in the solution of the problemto which this invention is directed. y

One of the objectives of this invention is to replace the operations of carrying ware and '90 saggers by power 4driven equipment. Y

. Transportation of ware, empty saggers, and

filled -sagg'ers is a vconveyer problem. Certain pmitations inherent in the problem render imfpracticable a conveyef for carrying Ware and sasgers to the placer. The ware varies in size andY shape, Vthere arernany different kinds of pieces.- Pieces placedin a single sagger are erly, paired, from-a source of supply to the placer. Butg the' placers Wo'rk inY crews to handle the volume of production. Obviously, `it is impractical ito supply 'a Whole crew of placers by one conveyer because the cadenceof Work varies from placer to placer and because the Ware and saggers both vary in size and shape.

To insure proper pairingof .'Ware and saggers being supplied toa'placer, itis desirable that the workmen choosing the `Ware and. saggers be together'. They should cooperate attthe time 20 the placer's cabinet and 'work table is replenished With'ware and-saggers. Also, for emciency,' -the' placers work table and cabinet should be replenished. in a regular time cycle in order to set a predetermined cadence of operation'whichv the average placer can be expected to keep up.V Both' of these requirements are met by bringing the -placers Work' table and cabinet and the Ware and sagger supply to, geth'er in regular sequence according to a pre- 30 determined' time schedule. VRather than move the supply of saggers and Ware, the work tables and cabinets are moved `to the supply of ware and saggers. The placers travel with their Work tables andcabinets, placing ware in saggers as an they go.` `It is an' object'of` this invention to provide" aY novel equipment for satisfying the aboveoutlinedrequirements eciently and `reiiebiy, j The lledfsa'ggers must be Aunloaded from the 40 conveyver system. It' is an object'of this invention toprovide equipment which, in addition to satisfying the above outlined requirements, transports the loaded saggers to a kiln car'loading station. Y Also, the saggerscontaining the burned ware r eturningf.frorn the kilns must be emptied and returned to the-sagger supply depot. It is anrobject of this invention to provide equi-pnient, which, in addition tothe foregoing objectives, provides for thev removal of burned ware from saggers andtransportation oi the empty eaggers to the supply depot. Many other objectives and advantages of the present invention Willappe'ar in the following de- 55 tailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, in plan, of conveyer equipment, of this invention, together with associated manufacturing facilities.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View, in plan, of another form of conveyer system.

Figure 3 is a view, in end elevation, partly in section, of some units of the conveyer system of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a View, in perspective, of typical parts of another form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view, in plan, of a detail of Figure Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view, in plan, illustrating certain characteristic positions of units illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation,

illustrating certain relative positions of the parts of the unit of Figure 4.

According to this invention, the activities of the placer, vother than placing of ware in 'saggers, are

isarranged so that vall placersV will be supplied fromY one source. Since wares of a particular variety can beplaced only 'in saggers of a corresponding size and shape, intelligent selection of the sagger and the ware,which is provided to a placer,y must Vbe made. Therefore, the supply of the ware and supply of the saggers must be under the' control of the workmen who are so located as to be aware of theactivities'of each other. According to this invention, the placers work tables` and work supply cabinets are moved to the depots of supply of ware and'saggers.

. v The ware depot and thesagger depot are adjacent. The .workbench and cabinet together are moved to one depot, then to the other. Either saggers or ware is loaded rst. Then, the other, of either saggers or ware-is loaded. The workmen observe the operations*y of one another, or both depots may be served by one Workman.

The work benches and cabinets together are movedto the supply depots and from the supply depots in regularsequence. The cycle Vfor passing allthe work benches and cabinets to and from the supply depot is according to a predetermined `time schedule. `The placers travelwith the ywork benches and cabinets and the time schedule sets astandard for .the cadence of work by the placers. This aiords eiiiciency and good production control. yThe time schedule is such as to utilizeV the timeA ofthe placers fully, inplacing, withallowance forindividual variations, mistakes and accidents. f Y l Af diagrammatic illustration of equipment; for practising this invention is shownl in Figure l.

Y The placer rides withl the work table, work bench andcabinet. v'Ihe iloor or platform upon which the operator rides, the work table and the cabinet altogether form a unit in the 'conveyer system. Such `units'are indicated at I in Figure 1. Units I comprise a platform 2 forthe'placer, a.

'Work bench 3, and a cabinet 4. The yparticular -relationof the parts of the units shown in Figure-V1 j termined time schedule.

is not intended to be structurally accurate, only illustrative. Units I are supported by and movable along a, suitable track indicated by line 5. The units I are arranged side by side, as indicated in Figure l, and are connected together by a con- 5 ventional chain. Power supplied to the 'chain -through suitable means of conventional construcf tion moves the cars along the conveyer. The conveyer system is in the form of a loop, only one end of which isV illustrated in Figure l. veyer is operated, the units I pass around the loop in continuous sequence and according to a prede- The direction of travel is as indicated by arrows in Figure l.

A sagger depot is indicated at 6 and the sagger 15 I loading platform at I. The ware, having the glaze finish thereon, is brought to the conveyer system on trucks 8,' which' form the Ware depot. Trucks 8 are arranged near to the ware loading platform 9.

As the units I approach the sagger loading platform 1, they are emptyexcept fora supplyof pins always kept in all of the cabinets. lThe pins are uniform and they may be replenishedat any time at alll cabinets. Saggers chosen accordingto pro- 2,5 duction schedule are placed'on the Work-.benches 3 at platform 'I as the units I move along that platform. The units I progress from platform. 'i to platform vIl where ware, chosen to i'lt the saggers y alreadyon the workbenches, is Yloaded into the 30' cabinets 4. .M In the'form of invention illustrated in Figure l,v the units I are arranged with the placers platform on the outside of the loop. The placer faces toward the inside of the loop. The work vbench is 35' before him and the ware cabinet 4 above and in back of the work bench. The work bench is easily accessible to platform 'I for loading. The ware cabinet 4 may be loaded from the platform 9. As will be described later, the structure ofthe. I may be such that the ware cabinet 4 will be moved automatically outwardly of the looprto a position more accessible to platform I when the units are passing that platform. If desired, the placer himself may perform the sagger loading and ware loading operations as the units I pass theplatforms 'I and 9.

There may be a unitI for each placer'. Other factors which limit the rate o-f operation of the conveyer system make it desirable that each placer serve several of the units I, four .for example.

The length of the loop and the rate of operation is such that the placer has adequate time to fill all of the saggers assignedy to him, The filled. saggers must be discharged from thejconveyer, loaded upon kiln cars, passed through the kiln, cooled, the burned ware discharged from the sagger, and the empty sagger cleaned and returned' to the sagger depot. If desired, Ythe loaded saggers may be vdischarged from the conveyer system, illustrated in Figure l', just before the units I reach the sagger depot and the above mentioned auxiliary operations attended to en- .tirely independently'A of the conveyer system. For reasons of eciency and economy, it is desirable, according to this invention, toV adapt the conveyer system of this invention for'the .performance of the :last mentioned functions as well as'to increase the eiciency of the placer crew. Y y The placers work may be completed on that end of the conveyer loop extending fromY the platform 9 andv to a location I'approximately opposite the platform 9. When the units I reach locationY IIJ, the saggers are `filled and ready to be discharged. The conveyer system is arranged 75 As the con- `10 alongside of'ahd'parallel to the track H for the kln'cars l2. Workmen on platform I3 may take fill-ed saggers from the'work benches 3 of nearby units l; The filled saggers are loaded directly onto the kiln cars l2. The kiln cars l2 are moved aiong the track Il and passed through the coritinuous kiln lf3. When the cars l2 leave the kiln I4, time is allowed for the saggers 'and ware to :cool and the kiln cars are then moved along the track il to a location indicated generally at l5. The cooled saggers aretaken from the cars l2 on the platform l. The burned ware may be removed and the empty saggersloaded on units iY to be conveyed around-to the sagger depot@ where the saggers are taken from units l, cleaned and stored, ready for further use. If desired, the saggers with the burned ware therein may be loaded onto units l and the ware removed by workmen as the units move along, the workmen riding on the units. Wares so removed may be loaded upon a conveyer l'l for transportation to another department. Y The operations auxiliary to placing the ware in saggers may be attended to by the placers or by less lskilled workmen. The operations of placing begin at platformS and end at the location i8. The conveyer system is provided with additional units i3, arranged at intervals between the Vunits l and carried as part of the conveyer system. The units i3 are access cars consisting onlygof the necessary framework and a floor or platform i3 to permit aV placer to step from outside the conveyer systemto the platform 2Q within the conveyer system, and Vice versa, at any timel while the conveyer is in operation. When ajplacer has completed his work at location I0, he may step through access car to platform 20, then through another access car to platform 9 and ontoV the platform or oor of a unit l and there resume placing of ware. This reduces waste of time of the placers to a minimum.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The units 2l of the conveyer system are arranged to move in a loop or circuit according to a predetermined time schedule as in the case of the system illustrated in Figure-1. In the course of movement of the units 2l, each unitV passes a sagger depot 22 and a Ware depot 23 where the units are loaded with saggers and ware to be placed. The units continueV their travel around the circuit in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 and placers ll the saggers as they travel with the units 2l. The Vtime schedule is such that the work. of the placers is completed when location 23 is reached. The filled saggers are unloaded at location 24 and transferred to kiln cars (not shown) The saggers lled with burned ware are unloaded from kiln cars at location 25, the dishes removed and the empty saggers loaded on the units 2li.` The empty saggers are removed at location Ef, cleaned and placed in the sagger depot for further use. :Unloading of burned ware from the saggers may be done upon the units 2| as they travel along the conveyer system. Any suitable auxiliary conveyer (not shown) may be provided adjacent tov the conveyer system, illustrated in Figure 2, for receiving the burned Ware taken from the saggers.

. The placers, having completed their work at location 23, immediately go to other adjacent units 2l 'which have completed the end of the circuit, illustrated in Figure 2, and have been' ,providedwith ware and saggers to be filled.

iThe equipment of Figures 2 and 3 affords ease of movement from unit to unit for 'the placers. The equipment also aords accessibility to the placers cabinet for Athe ware loading workman. Also, theequipment provides easy access to the Work table from without the conveyer system.

The units 2|` consist of placers platform 2l, the work bench 28, and the ware cabinet 29, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure As shown in Figure 3, the units 2l comprise a car 4), built of end channels 4|, secured together across the top by channels 42 and across the bottom by framework 43, which may consist of angle irons and sheet metal in a box-like structure. 'This car is supported Vby yokes 44, connected with channels 42 and suspended for movement along beam by rollers 46, rotatably mounted in yokes 44 and arranged to roll along a beam 45. The car 4E) is supported against side sway by rollers 4l mounted on the under side of theV structure 43 and engaging track 48 mounted on the floor 49, The beam 45 is supported on a suitable superstructure.

The structure 43 at the base of car 40 provides the platform or moving floor 5B for the placers.

Itl will be observed that the platforms 53 are arf ranged within the conveyer circuit at opposite sides of a central area 5l. When the placer completes his work and reaches location 23, he may Astep across area 5l to the opposite unit 2l and begin Work at once. side by side, as illustrated in Figure 2, so that a placer may move freely from unit to unit and back and forth across the platform 5 I. This freedom of movement enables the placers of a crew to assist one another whenever an individual lags behind schedule for any reason. Experience shows that this factor is an important one in maintaining the work schedule as determined by the rate of operation of the conveyer system.

The Work benches 52 are supported by and between the vertical channels 4l which constitute the end pieces of car 453; It is arranged at a position relative to the platform 5e, most convenient for the placer. Saggers 53 are placed on the work table 52 and remain there during placing until the lled sagger is taken from the unit.

The ware cabinets are shown at 54. The cabinets 54 consist of vertically arranged channels 55 which constitute the end pieces of the cabinet. Horizontally arranged channels connect the vertical pieces 55 at top and bottom to make a rigid framework. Trays 56 are mounted near the bottom of the framework and .serve to carry pans filled with pins to be used in placing the ware. Shelves 5l are mounted on the end pieces 55 and serve to receive the ware which is arranged on boards and brought to the cabinets in that way. The boards with the ware thereon are placed on the shelves 5? for use by the placer. The ware cabinets 54 are supported by yokes 53, connected with the top channels of the cabinet frame. The yokes 53 are suspended from a beam 39 by rollers 69, mounted for rotation in the yokes 58 and arranged to travel along the beam 59'; The beam 59 is supported on a suitable superstructure. A track 6I is mounted upona suitable superstructure 62. Roller G3 is carried upon bracket S4, mounted on the frame of the cabinet 54. The roller S3 rides within track 6l and supports the cabinet from side sway.

The position of the ware cabinet during placing is illustrated at E5. In that position it is arranged conveniently for the placer. The position 65 of the cabinet blocks access to the work table 52 from outside of the conveyer system. The

The units 2l are arranged operations of unloading the filled sagger from the work table, of placing on the table a sagger from the kiln, either with or without the burned ware in it, of unloading the used sagger at location 26 and of loading cleaned saggers at location 22, all are effected from locations'outside of the conveyer system. To make the work table 52 accessible, for the last mentioned operations, the beam 59, indicated diagrammatically in Figure 2, is arranged adjacent to the beam 45 at one end of the conveyer circuit asxshown in Figure 2. When the car 40 moves from location 23 to location- 24, the cabinet 65, following the beam 59, moves into the position 66, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. With thecabinet in position 66, the work table 52 is readily accessible and the car 48 becomes simply a conveyer for saggers placed on the table 52, as the cars travel from location 24 around to location 22. As the units reach the ware loading position, the beam 59 is arranged more distantly from the beam 45 and the cabinet 54 moves from position 66 back into position 65, asillustrated in Figures 2 and 3. In thislposition, cabinet 54 is readily accessible Yto workmen outside of the conveyer for loading it with ware. Placing of the ware proceeds with the cabine-ts in position 65 and the cycle is repeated.

The cars 40 are driven along beam 45 by a'suitable chain driven from a conventional source of power (not shown). This is common conveyer practice. To permit the change in position of cabinet 54, relative to car 4B, described above, while maintaining the cabinets and cars in properly paired association to form units, each cabinet is associated with a car 40 and is moved by a connection with its respective car. For that purpose, a connecting rod 61 is provided. The connecting rod 61 is attached to the car 40 at a ball and socket jointV 68 and to the respective cabinet by ball and socket joint 69. As the position of beam '59 relative to the beam 45 changes, the cabinet 54, following the beam 59, is pulled along by the respectivecar 4U. The connecting rod 61 swings about the ball and socket joints to accommodate the changed positions between Y the cabinet and car while transmitting the force necessary to move the cabinet. As shown in Figure 2, the connecting rod 61 swings about Vthe ball and socket joint 68 as the cabinet 54 moves between positions 65 and 66. This involves some horizontal displacement between the cabinet and car in the direction of movement of the conveyer as well as lateral thereto. As will be observed from Figure 2, the arrangement of cabinets, cars, and connecting rods is such that such lengthwise displacement is readily accommodated.

The mode of operation of the conveyer system as a whole has been outlined. The construction of the conveyer system entails certain novel features essential to the successful operation ofthe conveyer system. Figure 4 illustrates thev construction of a typical yplacers unit of proven practicability. 1

The placers unit comprises the car 1| `and the cabinet 12. The car 1l provides the moving floor or platform 13 and work table 14.

Channels 15 form the upright structural members of car 1i. The channels 15 are bent to provide forwardly extending horizontal portions 16. The portions 16 are joined by horizontal channels 11 fastened at their ends to portions 16 of channels 15. The bottom ends of channels 15 are connected bythe platform 13. The platform 13 consists of angle irons 18 joined to form afbox-like structure and islcover-ed with sheet metal`19 to afford the floor upon which the placer may stand. This platform structure Yisrsecured to channels 15 in any suitable manner, as by welding for example. Diagonally extendingv strips 86, connecting with channels 15 'and with the platform structure 13, strengthen the car. The work bench 14 is Vfastened at its ends tothe channels 15 in Vany suitable manner, and is arranged for the convenience of the placer.l Saggers are placed on the work bench 14 'and are filled there.

The movement of car 1I, as the placer works, tends to place him under a strain unless every precaution is taken to eliminate annoying vibration and shaking. Placing of ware is a careful operation; shaking and vibration of car 1I must beeliminated as nearly as possible for that reason, too. YFreedom from vibration and shaking of car 1li is obtained by the manner of suspens1on. Y

Since there is constant activity on the cars byV the placers, it is inevitable that there will be an accumulation of dbris, the pins used in placing the ware for example, under foot and on the floor beneath the conveyer. To escape jarring of the car consequent upon riding over such dbris, the cars 1l are'suspended from an overhead rail 8B. lThe rail 85 is supported by a suitable superstructure, not shown. The rail 8l extends in a complete loop about which the cars'1l travel continuously. Conventional trolleys82 track along the rail 8l. The trolleys 82 connect With and support the chain 83 through which the power for moving the unit 10 is transmitted. A conventional power drive, not shown, is provided for driving the chain 33. Certaintrolleys 82 may be provided-only for supporting the chain 83 so that there will be substantially no slack in the chain. The elimination of slack in chain 83 aids in eliminating vibration and shaking of cars 1| since the presence of slack tends to cause a jerky movement of cars being driven.

The channels 11 are spaced apart to provide a slot 84 therebetween. The trolleys 82 areV provided with extensions 85 and 86. Extension 85 is arranged in slot 84. A collar 86 is rigidly mounted on extension 85, by welding for example. Extension 85 reaches beneath the underside of channels 11. A suitable collar, not shown, Surrounds thelower end of extension 85, is loose on extension 85, and abuts against the underside of channels 11, spanning the slot 84. A resilient member 81 is arranged on the lower end of extension '85 between the last described collar and a nut 88 threaded on the end of extension 85. Nut'88 is drawn up to secure the channels 11 between the collar 86 and the resilient member 81. This affords a secure connection, at a definite location,between the chain 83 and the car 1|. The

`resilient member 81, which may be a rubber pad or a coil spring for example, serves as Ya shock absorber to eliminate transmission of vibration from` the power drive through the chain 83 to the cars 1I. and largely eliminates the transmission of shaking, induced in individual cars by the activities of the placers-from car to car.

As described in connection with Figures 1 and The resilient m'ember 81 also dampensv 2, the conveyer system is in the form of a loop.

The loop has long straight sides and sharply curved ends. This arrangement is desirable so that a continuous moving floor may be main- 'tained along the cars which is broken for a minimum interval of time while the cars pass around the short arcs at the ends of the loop. As the cars 1| travel around the arcs at the end of the loop,. each car spans the curved rail 8| as the chord of an arc. The chain 83 tracks around the periphery of a wheel located at the turn. One of these wheels may supply power to the chain and the other wheel m'ay be an idler, at the two ends of the loop. Or, both wheels may idle and power be supplied through a caterpillar drive. The wheels keep the chain 83 taut and prevent undue loads from being imposed upon the trolleys; The slot Bt in which the extensions 85 and 89 :are arranged, forms'a chord across the arc through which the chain 83 travels. Therefore, the distance between extensions 85 and 86 must shorten, to allow for the diierence between the lengthof the arc and the length of the chord across the arc, as the cars pass around the turns at the ends of the loop. Provision must be made to'allow for the changing `distance between extensions V85 and B5 as the cars enter and leave the turns.

The cars '5| move in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4. The extension 85 leads extension 85 and the driving connection between the chain B3 and the car 7| is made through extension 85. To allow for the changing distance between extensions 85 and 86, extension 86 is arranged for movement along the slot 84. Since extension 86 is one of the supports for the car 1|, the load upon'it and the relative movement between the extension and the channels constitute a possible source of shaking or vibration for the car 1|. To obviate the development of any vibration, and to allow complete freedom of movement for extension 86 along slot 8d while carrying the load of the car, a -pair of wheels 89 are mounted on a shaft 99 fixed to the lower end of extension 85. Each of the channels rest upon one of the wheels S9. The wheels 89 may be of non-metallic material tc eliminate metal to metal contact and thus further reduce the possibility of creating vibrations and noise. As the cars pass around the turns, the rollers 89 ride along the underside of channels shortening the distance between extensions 85 and 86 as the car enters the curve and restoring those extensions to their normal spacing as the car leaves the turn. Jamming and undue strain upon the operating parts are obviated by this construction.

'To prevent side sway of car I, it is supported against lateral movement at its base. An overhead :structure for the same function may be substituted, The support at the base affords maximum stability and the structure is such, as will be described, that no objectionable actions occur because of the location. A rail 9| is arranged beneath the platform 'i3 approximately below the beam 8|. Rail 9| may be mounted on the-floor beneath the conveyer or upon any suitable 'supporting structure. The rail 9| has a Vertical rib 92 which is engaged on both sides by adjacent wheels 93. The wheels 93 rotate on pins fllxed in cross member 95. Cross member 95 is rotatably mounted on a pin 95 xed in plate the vertical rib and are placed above the floor so as to clear any dbris accumulated there and thus reduce the possibility of jarring car vby engagement with dbris, ,to a minimum. When the cars 1| pass around the turns at the end of the conveyer loop, the wheels 93 are kept in contact with the opposite sides of rib 92 by spring 99 while adjusting their position, by ro-4 tation of cross member 95 about pin 96, to accommodate the curvature of rib 92. This structure provides good support for the car 'll to prevent lateral movements while obviating the creation of vibration or shaking due to engagement of dbris or due to passage of cars around the turn of the conveyer loop.

The construction so far described aiords asubstantially vibrationless support for the car with provision for preventing sidev sway., Practical limitations in conveyer construction prohibit making the car so rigid and so firmly mounted as to eliminate end sway or weave of the car plat,- form as a workman moves about it. The cars are arranged in end to end relationship to provide 4a substantially continuous moving oor. This juxtaposition of car platforms, in addition to elimination of shaking for the benefit of the workmen, makes it necessary to eliminate end weave of the cars. For that purpose, suitable'structure is provided for connecting car platforms so as not to permit endwise relative movement between the platforms. Such structure may be of various design, within the purview of this invention, one suitable form being illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. To prevent such relative movement between car platforms as would cause separation, links` 200 and 20| are pivotally mounted as indicated at 202, on the underneath side of the car platforms. The links 200 and 20| are pivotally connected as indicated at 203. which pivot is located substantially midway between the cars when the links are in their fully extended position, as illustrated in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5, stops 204 are provided on the car platforms against which links 200 and 20| abut when in fully extended position. As shown in Figure 5, the fully extended position of links 200 and 20|, as determined by engagement with stops 204, is slightly displaced from dead center position so that the links may break at pivot 203 whenever pivot points 202 are moved toward one another, which eventoceurs as the cars traverse the turns inthe conveyer loop, On the straight portions ofthe conveyor loop, an abutment 205 is rigidly mounted on the forward end of each car platform and the abutment `205 engages with thegtrailing end of the leading car platform. The abutment 205 limits the closeness of approach of the car platforms on the straight portions of the conveyer loop while not interfering with the relative move-v ment between car platforms at the turns.V

By reason of the construction last described, relative endwise movement between car platforms is prevented on the straight portions of the conveyer loop and the platforms together constitute one continuous moving iioor without substantial relative movement between the platforms which make up the floor throughout the .straight lengths of the conveyer system. Workmen may move along the moving oor with the same ease and safety as on a stationary iioor and the shifting weight of the Workmen is restrained, by the va# rious structures hereinbefore described, from causing any substantial shaking or weaving or relative movement of the parts of the moving licor.

z Thus a car structure and suspension-isprovider ed for carrying the placer while at work under conditions of stability and'freedom from shaking or'vib'ration which closely approximate Vthe workingv .conditions` at the '.usual .stationary work bench. f .f 'The ware cabinet 12`comprise`s vertical channels joined across the topby achannel and across the bottom'by the tray;|02. A cover |03 is fastened to the top channel and extends over the'cabinet. Projections |04 `are carried by channels |0| and. extend inwardly of the cabinet.' .The projections |04 carry bars |05 adapted to support, at the endsl'boards loaded with ware. It is customary to bring the ware to the placer on boardsand such boards 'are placed on the rods byaworkman. Y

It is desirable to associate the cabinets and the cars in. pairs whichvform a unit fat vall times throughout the courseof -travel oftthe `conveyer system. The paired relation of 'car'and cabinet, forming a unit, eliminates the possibility of .confusion as to which cabinet goes to: the particular car, itl insures proper `alignment of cabinet and car at al1 times, and it eliminates the constant service attention required to maintain independent conveyer systems properly coordinated.

In therbroader aspects of this invention, the cabinet may be made integral with the car and be supported from the frameA of the car.Y Several advantages which -will appear:v in the following de-4 scription accrue from providing a flexible connection between-the car and the'cabinet so that the relative positions -of the car and cabinet in each unit may be varied in a predetermined'man-V ner as the unit passes through thecycle of operations around the conveyersystem..r

There are many ways of aiordinganV adjustable connection between the cabinet and car of a unit, within the purview of this invention. For example, the cabinet maybe mounted lon the framework of the car by a structure permitting relative movement between cabinet and car and Vsuch movement may be effected bythe operator moving with the car or by suitable `mechanical means associated with the conveyerl system as by a cam and cam follower, the power-being supplied by they conveyer system. Figure 4 illustrates a form'ofadjustable connection between cabinet and'car. W fil In practice, it has been foundsuitableto pro vide an auxiliary-rail |06 supported by a-superstructure-not shown. VThe 'cabinet 1'2"is"sus pended from rail |06 by trolleys |01 which'ride along the rail |06 and which connect with the top channel ofthe cabinet. f l

To maintain the unitary Yassociation between car 1| and'cabinet 12, a 'permanent structural connection between the vtwoAV is'providedf which also serves as the meansffor .transmitting force from car 1| to cabinet 12 to move thecabinet along the rail |06. While such fa structure may take a wide variety ofl forms,.within the'purview of this invention, one formlfound tor be suitable is illustrated in Figure 4'. .'I'hezstructure may comprise angle irons |08 ,and H10-mounted on the top of cabinet 12 and extending later. ally `therefrom toward the car 1|. The sangle irons |08 and |09 support a Hball andsocket 'joint |`|0 at their extremities. Connecting.rod

has one end mounted in the socket-.l |.0'and the other end mounted in socket H2-of another ball and socket joint..l [Socket- ||.2.--is mounted on posit,- ||3 extending upwardly from andfastened to the forward side channel 15 of car 1|.

supporting structure for.. the balI- and socket joints:||0 and ||21is arranged so that, during the ,course of all relative movements between cabinet 12 and car 1|, the connecting rod will not'depart excessively far from parallel relation to the direction Y. of travel of the units, either laterally or vertically, to avoid placing undue strains upon thevtrolleys, of either vthe cabinet or vthe car, by the towing force exerted through connecting rod on the cabinet 12. The con-v necting structure is arranged for clearance throughout all relative movements of the cabinet and car. y

The cabinet 12 should be supported against side swayv and, since the car and cabinet are mounted on different rails, it is desirable to pre` vent Vrelative movement between cabinet and car due to imperfections in conveyer construction. Both ends are attained by providing arms H4, mounted on channels |0| of thecabinet, which extend toward and in proximity to the channels 15 of car 1|. The arms ||l| `have ngers H5 arranged to fit in the sockets ||6 secured to channels v1.5.. kv'Ihe t of ngers ||5 in sockets I6 is loose and sockets l l0 are openV at both ends and at the top to permit easy withdrawal of lingers ll5therefrom. During placing, the operatingV position of the cabinet and car is illustrated in Figure 4 and ngers ||5 riding in sockets ||6 support the cabinet 12 against side sway and prevent any'substantial displacement between car and cabinet.

,The nature of the connection at IingerV I5 and socket |56 permits freedom of movement between car and cabinet where intended. One of the advantages o f the flexible connection between cabinetand car is in the simplication of the conveyer structure at the turns in the conveyer loop. Since the cars and cabinets travel at thesame speed on the straight portions of the system, when the units make the turns either one of twoA things must be done.V Either, the lengthoi the arc around the turn must be the same for the rail 8| and the rail |06, in which case the paths of cabinet andV car must cross. Or, the rails may be'concentric, in which case Vthe cabinetmustmove more rapidly than the car. The flexible'connection between the cabinet and car permits the latter of the 'two possibilities. A compromise between the two extremes may be made, Ywhichrwould require the flexible connection ,ci this invention. By moving the cabinet more rapidly than the car on the turns, the rails 8| andr|06 may be arranged concentrically at the turns which is Ydesirable from an engineering and operating standpoint.

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically the concentricarrangement of rails 8| and |06 and the rela- H tive position of vcabinet and car on the turn as compared` with that relative position when the unit isj on straight portions of the loop. The relative position of the car and cabinet on the straight rails, as shown in Figure 6, corresponds to Figure 4. As the unit movesaround the turn, the cabinet moves faster than the car, upon entering the turn, and assumes the advanced position relative to the car. The connecting rod swings outwardly to vaccommodate the changed position between car and cabinet. As the unit leaves the turn, the cabinet moves more slowly than -the car, andV backward relative to the car, to resume the initial position. The car moves at a uniform rate of speed around the turn.

In order to free the cabinet from the car at thefconnection between lringer l5 and socket H6.

when making the turn, rail I 05, at the turn, is elevated above the level of the straight portions of the rail. The relative vertical positions of the car and cabinet is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure?. The working position of the cabinet is shown in full lines. The position of the cabinet, elevated to clear fingers H5 from sockets IIS for making the turn, is shown in dotted lines. f

If only the problem of making the turns were involved, it would be sufficient to mount the cabinet on the car and to provide only one rail to support the whole unit. However, there are other advantages to the exible connection between cabinet and car. When loading and unloading saggers onto and from the work bench i4, from a position outside of the conveyer system, the cabinet I2 obstructs access to the work bench. The flexible connection between car and 'cabinet provides means by which the cabinet may be moved out of the way of workmen on the outside of the conveyer system so as to make the car FI equally accessible from either outside or inside.

It has been found suitable to elevate the rail |86 well above the rail 8| to provide head clearance beneath the cabinet I2 for workmen who must have access to the car li from outside the conveyer system. As the unit moves in that portion of the oonveyer system where the rail IBS is elevated above rail IDI, for head clearance, the cabinet 'I2 is lifted free from the connection between fingers ||5and sockets H6 and advanced up an incline of rail |06 by the towing force exerted through connecting rod which turns upwardly above the ball and socket joint H2. When the cabinet 12 reaches the high level of the rail |06, the operating connection between car and cabinet remains the same except that the connecting rod extends upwardly instead of downwardly from ball and socket joint I l2. The

unit progresses with the cabinet and car arranged in those relative positions and may make a turn in the conveyer loop while the cabinet is so elevated. Figure 7 illustrates diagrammatically the relative vertical positions between car and cabinet when the cabinet is elevated to provide head room for workmen having access to car 1 from outside the conveyer system. The cabinet is illustrated in dot and dash lines for the elevated position to allow head room.

The conveyer systems, and particularly the structure in Figure 4, have been described in connection with the operation of placing in the pottery industry, and particularly features have been explained with the placing operation as the background from which particular reasons for the construction are derived. Obviously, the inventionl is not so limted. The nature Vof the Work performed on a car, such as car 1|, may be any of a great variety. The advantages attendant upon moving the workmen with thevcar and of maintaining working conditions on the car which simulate the steadiness and freedom from machine annoyance which characterizes a stationary work place applied equally well to other manufacturing operations. The arrangement of Yan auxiliary part to the car 1|, of which the cabinet 12 is an example of such anauxiliary part, the two being arranged in a unit with a exible connection between, obviously has many other applications and functions. 'I'he auxiliary part may be made to move relative to the car in a great variety of Ways by the power supplied from the conveyer systemand in accordance with a predetermined schedule to aid a Workman in the performance of his operations. The auxiliary part, cabinet l2 for example, may be provided for supporting a product being assembled progressively, and the auxiliary part may be made to move to and from, up and down, relative to car 'il to assist a workman in the task of attaching parts to the object being assembled. Or, a workman on the moving car may be engaged in a machine operation, and the auxiliary part, or cabinet, may be arranged to control or modify the machine operation, to advance the machine from one operation to another, to advance successive pieces into position to be acted upon by a machine, to carry tools and materials for the workman. These are but some examples of the applications of the auxiliary part or cabinet which forms a unit with the operator car and which undergoes a cycle of movements, in addition to traveling about the conveyer, by the power and actuation of the conveyer system. The rail |96 may be considered as a cam for actuating the cabinet, although it also supports the cabinet. Obviously, the cabinetrmay be supported solely by the car, be adjustable relative thereto, and be actuable by a cam, rail |06 being one example of such a cam. The term cabinet used in the claims is hereby defined as covering a part auxiliary to, and forming a unit with a car, without speoic limitation to its functions or uses. The structure illustrated in Figure 4 is but one example in which many variations in the details of construction, operation, and functions may be made within the purview of this invention.

Since the placers carry on their work inside of the oonveyer system, freedom of movement in and out of the conveyer system is important. For that purpose, according to this invention, access cars are provided in the conveyer system. Such an access car is shown at I 4' in Figure 4. Access car ||l| comprises upright channels H5' bent to provide forward projections H6 united by top channels |I'I. A slot ||8 is provided between channels IVI and the car H4 is ,supported from rail 8| by trolleys 82 connected to channels ||1 in the same manner as in the case of car 7|. A platform ||9 similar in construction to platform 73 joins the bottoms of channels ||5. Workmen may pass freely into and out of the conveyer system by walking through access car H4', on platform I I9. A fragment |26 of the floor within the conveyer system is shown in association with car IM. The cars of the conveyor system all have the inner edges of the platform arranged in proximity to the oor |20. Workmen may step from floor to platform without danger. Likewise, the outside edges of the car platforms are in proximity to the oor outside the conveyor system. The tops of the platforms are flush with the floors.

To enable the Workmen to step from car to car without danger, it is desirable to arrange the cars so as to provide a substantially continuous floor made of moving platforms. However, some space must be allowed between the platforms in order that the cars may go around the turns of the conveyer loop without jamming. Such space is indicated at |2I, Figure 4. To cover the gap between the platforms 'I3 and H9, for example, an insert |22 is hinged, as indicated at |23, to the trailing end of each car. The margin of the insert |22 distant from its hinges rests upon the adjacent channel of the following car as indicated at |23. A portion of the sheet metal top 'I9 of the platform structure is cutaway as indicated at |24 (car 1|) sothat the insert |22 will be flush with the top of the platform of the following car. In making the turns, the inserts |22 are raised about their hinges, as indicated at |25, to prevent jamming` between cars. Each insert |22 is provided with a downwardly extendingV trip |26. At the turns in the conveyer loop, a plate |2'i' is arranged beneath the cars so as to be engaged-by each trip |25. The plate |21 is raised suiciently that engagement of the trip with the plate lifts the insert |22 to a position such as indicated in |25. The plate |27 extends completely around the turn and the inserts |22 are maintained in elevated position throughout the passage of the cars around the turn to prevent jamming between the cars. When the turn is completed, the trips |26 leave the plate and the inserts |22 fall back into position, bridging the gap between the car platforms. Thus, the continuous moving floor is provided by the car platforms throughout the straight portions ofthe conveyer system so that the workmen may move freely from car to car without danger. When workmen arrive at the end of the loop, they step off the car entering the turn, cross the floor |20, and resume operations on the car leaving the turn.

While the invention has been described in detail by way of illustration, it is not intended so to limit the invention. Variations in the details offconstruction may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following plane determined by the rails, said cars each having a platform for carrying workman, said platforms arranged end to end, connecting means joining adjacent platforms to prevent relative endwise movement between platforms.

2. A conveyer system comprising an overhead rail, a series of cars, trolleys arranged to track along the rail, a power driven flexible member connected with the trolleys, vibration eliminating connections between each car and the respective trolleys, including means permitting shifting movement between each car and at least one of the'trolleys for the car', a second rail spaced from and substantially parallel to the overhead rail, rollers mounted on each car, said rollers being arranged to track on opposite sides of the second rail, said rollers engaging the second rail i in a direction lateral to the direction of the load of the cars on the overheadfrail, avplatform on each car for carrying a workman, the cars being arranged with the platforms end to end in the direction of car movement, articulated and abutment connections joining adjacent ends of adjacent cars.

3. A conveyer system comprising an overhead rail having curved portions, trolleys arranged to track on the rail, a series of cars each suspended from a pair of trolleys, one of said pair of trolleys being Xedly connected with the car and the other of Vsaid pair of trolleys being arranged for free movement relative to the car in the direction of car travel, a second rail spaced from and substantially parallel to the overhead rail, tracking elements on the car arranged to en.- gage the second rail in a direction lateral to the direction of the load of the car on the overhead rail, means for varying the spacing of the elements vrelative to the rail, resilient meansgfor maintaining the elements in engagement with the rail.

4. A conveyer system comprising an overhead rail having curved portions, trolleys arranged to track on the rail, a powerdrive connected with the trolleys, a series of cars each having a platform with the platforms arrangedin end toend relation, each car being suspended from a pair of trolleys, a resilient fixed connection between each car and one trolley, a freely rolling element on the other trolley of the pair arranged to receive,

vent relative endwise movement of the car plat# forms.

5. A conveyer system comprising an overhead rail having curved portions, a series of Cars suspended from and movable along the rail, each car having a workman carrying platform, the platforms being arranged end to end and spaced apart, an insert arranged to bridge the gap between .adjacent platforms, articulatedmeans connecting the platforms to prevent relative endwise movement between platforms, said :articulated means operating to permit relative movement between platforms when the cars traverse the curvedV portion, and a trip on the insert arranged to en.- gage Va stationarypartof the system for displacing the inserts from gap bridging position;

6. A conveyer system comprising a series lof cars, a platform on each oar for carrying a'workman, a rail for supporting the cars, power means for moving the cars along the rail, the rail having curved portions, said platforms being spacedapart to afford clearance'between the cars whentraversing -the'curved portions, an insert fon each car for spanning the gap between car platforms', means arranged to displace the insert vfrom Ygap spanning position as the cars traverse thecurved portions,`

'7. A conveyer system comprising a series of cars,'rail structure and powermeans for moving the cars in a closed circuit Vhaving turns, said cars each having a platform for carrying aworkman at floor level, the platforms being arranged on the inside of theloop,certa in cars having means adapted for production operations by the workman, other cars being open across the pathoftra'vel of the conveyor, the carsbeing spacedapart to aiord clearance between cars traversingturn's; an insert on each car for bridging the gap Vbetween car platforms, cam means at the turns of the system, means on the inserts for engaging thfecam means to displace the inserts'from gap bridging position as the cars traverse the turns.`

V8.7A conveyer system comprising a series of cars, rail structure and power means for moving the Ycars in a closed circuit having turns, said cars each having a platform for carrying'a workman, the cars being spaced apartv to afford clearance between cars traversing turns, articulated means connecting car platforms to limit separation between the platforms, an insert on each car arranged to bridge the gap between platforms, insert displacing means arranged at the turns, means on the inserts for engaging with the displacing means at the turns, said articulating means operating to permit relative movement between car platforms at the turns.

9. A conveyer system comprising a series of cars, a platform at floor level on each car adapted to carry a workman engaged in production on the car, said system being in the form of a closed loop, said cars being arranged with the platforms on the inside of the loop, access cars in the series of cars, said access cars each having a platform at floor level and being open across the path of travel of the conveyer system, power means for moving the cars continuously.

10. A conveyer system comprising a series of cars, a platform at floor level on each car adapted to carry a workman engaged in production on the car, said system being in the form of a closed loop, said cars being arranged with the platforms on the inside of the loop, access cars in the series of cars, said access cars each having a platform at floor level and being open across the path of travel of the conveyer system, power means for moving the cars continuously, connecting means joining adjacent platform to prevent relative endwise displacement.

11. A conveyer system comprising a series of cars, an overhead rail in a closed loop, trolleys arranged to track on the overhead rail, each car being supported byrespective trolleys,a second rail spaced from and substantially parallel to the overhead rail, tracking means on the cars arranged to engage the second rail to prevent side sway, at least one car having a platform at floor level and being open across the path of travel of the system, means connecting the platforms of adjacent cars to prevent end sway of the play.

12. A conveyer system comprising a series of cars, an overhead rail in a closed loop, trolleys arranged to track on the overhead rail, each car being supported by respective trolleys, a second rail spaced from and substantially parallel to the overhead rail, tracking means on the cars arranged to engage the second rail to prevent side sway of the car, each car having a platform at floor level for carrying a workman, said platforms being arranged on the inside of the loop, at least some of said cars being open across the path of travel of the conveyer system, articulated and abutment means between adjacent platforms to prevent relative endwise movement between platforms.

13. A conveyer system comprising a series of units movable in a closed circuit, each unit including a car and a cabinet, means connecting the car and cabinet permitting variation in the spatial relation between car and cabinet, means operable by movement of the unit along the conveyer circuit for varying the spatial relation between car and cabinet of a unit in predetermined schedule.

14. A conveyer system comprising a series of units, each unit including a car and a cabinet, the car and cabinet being mounted for movement, the one relative to the other, cam means for varying the spatial relation between the car and cabinet as the unit traverses the conveyer system.

. 15. A conveyer system comprising a series of units, each unit including a car and a cabinet, a supporting means for the car and the cabinet, power means for moving the car, adjustable means connecting the car and the cabinet for moving the cabinet with the car, cam means for varying the spatial relation between the car and the cabinet as the unit traverses the system.

16. A conveyer system comprising a series of units, each unit including an operator carrying car and a cabinet, rail structure for supporting the car and rail structure for supporting the cabinet, power means for moving the car along its rail structure, a flexible connection between the car and cabinet for moving the cabinet with the car, said rail structures being arranged in various spatial relations for varying the spatial relation between the car and cabinet as the unit traverses the system.

17. A conveyer system comprising a series of units, each unit including an operator carrying car and a cabinet, rail structure for supporting the car and rail structure for supporting the cabinet, a link pivotally connected to the car and to the cabinet, power means for moving the car.

18. A conveyer system comprising a series of units, each unit including an operator carrying car and a cabinet, rail structure for supporting the car and rail structure for supporting the cabinet, a link pivotally connected to the car and t0 the cabinet, power means for moving the car, means on the car and on the cabinet arranged for engagement to prevent substantial lateral movement between car and cabinet. A 19. A conveyer system comprising a series of units, each unit including a car and a cabinet, a rail structure for the car, a rail structure for the cabinet, the length of the two structures being different along arcs of turns in the system, power means for moving the car along the rail structure therefor, a exible coupling between the car and the cabinet for moving the cabinet with the car, said coupling operating to vary the speed of the cabinet at the turns.

20. A conveyer system comprising a series of cars and a series of cabinets, rail structure and power means for moving' the cars and cabinets in a circuit, connections between the cars and cabinets for maintaining the cars and cabinets in paired relation to form units, means for varying the spatial relation between car and cabinet by the power from the conveyer system as the units LYLE W. BOWERS. 

